Samoa became the first team to announce their World Cup squad Wednesday, naming a roster of 31 predominantly European-based players led by London Irish flanker Ofisa Treviranus.
Coach Stephen Betham has included six players who missed the recent Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), where Samoa were beaten by Fiji in the final, including Leicester Tigers prop Logovi’i Mulipola.
Wellington Hurricanes midfielder Rey Lee-Lo and the Pisi brothers – Tusi (Suntory Sungoliath), George and Ken (both Northampton Saints) – also make the squad after missing the PNC.
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Treviranus, 31, returns to the squad after a neck injury suffered in Samoa’s historic home Test against New Zealand last month.
Betham said: “This has been an incredibly difficult selection process as we have had to leave behind some excellent players, including those who performed well at the PNC.”
Samoa have been drawn in Pool B at the World Cup along with South Africa, Scotland, Japan and the USA.